Tank valve



Dec. 13, 1927.

1,652,236 A. H. CANFIELD n 1 TANK VALVE Original Filed Jan.50. 1924 Y Fig. 3 asimilar view Patented Dec. 13, 1,927.

UNITED STATES ALBERT HOHER CANFIELD, 0F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

TANK VALVE.

l.Application illed January 30, 1924,'Se1ia1v No. 689,491..

This invent-ion pertains to an improved tank valve, the construction and advantages 'of which will be hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the annexed drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the valve; Fig. 2 a vertical sectional view thereof;

illustrating the form the valve takes when it is seated and subjected to the pressure of the water above the same within the tank, and

Fig. 4 a sectional view illustrating a slightly modified form.

The main object of the invention is to produce a durable valve, and one which, by reason of its construction and consequent action under the pressure of the water, will readily seat itself and closely conform to its seat thereby ensuringk stoppage of the flow of water. The construction, moreover, is such that ball of given size will yfunction with seats of different dimensions, a point of manifest advantage.

Again, byreason of its construction, the ball will not collapse under pressure and, furthermore, will travel down with the falling water level until such level reaches a oint quite near the bottom of the tank.

With these and other objects and advantages in View, reference will first be made to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

The lower portion of the ball denoted by l is generally hemispherical in form having an opening 2 in its lowerv end as is usual in valves of this type. ably thickens as it extends upwardly from the opening and at its upper portion the outer face flares, or curves outwardly as at 3. The inner f ce of the wall curves inwardly as at 4, said curved portion being continued inwardly, forming the inner face of the top 5, and terminating in a downwardly curved section 6, thereby forming a downwardly projecting 'enlargement or post-like member 7 centrally of the ball. The portion ofthe ball thus far described is produced from flexible or readily yielding stock so that it will readily conform to the valve` seat and any inequalities therein. The upper portion or produced from stock, which, when subjected to the vulcanizing process, becomes relatively rigid, the superunposedlayers becoming of course an integral structure under the vulcanizing action. The different grades of stock are indicated in the sectional views The wall prefer-i layer of the topis -tially hemispherical Renewed June 9, v1%5.

by varied hatch lines, the .heavier lines indicating the harder stoc Extending .upwardly from the center of the top is a stem 8, in which is embedded the usual Spud 9 for attachment of the valve lifting and i guiding wire commonly em'- ployed with valves of this type.`

The upper faceof. the topis preferabl stifl'ened in zones or lines and this is' pre erably accomplishedl by providing stiftening elements .shown in the present instance as a series of concentric annular spaced ribs 10 produced in the process of molding the valve.

This concentric formation is preferred, though I do not wish to be limited thereto as the ribs might be otherwise positioned.

From the foregoing it will be 'seen that I have produced a one piece ball having a flexible lower valve contacting portion and a relatively rigid top having a substantially flat upper face while the inner face is arched from its sides toward the center. When seated and subjected to the pressure of the water within the tank upon its top, the ball assumes the form' shown in Fig. 3. From an inspection of this ligure it will be seen that the lower portion of the ball is 'somewhat flattened and is bulged outwardly, this being due to the pressure exertedl by the water overlying the substantially rigid top 5 which forces the valve evenly and fully to its seat. Inasmuch as the top is thicker at its middle and at its outer portions than it is intermediate said portions, it may bow down slightly at they center as shown in Fig. 3 when subjected to the seating pressure of the water. Such yielding, however, is not detrimental but on the 'contrary, appears to be beneficial in securing a proper seating of the valve.

In Fig. 4 a slight modification of the structure is illustrated.

In this instance the upwardly extending stem 8 is dispensed with and the spud is secured in the centrally disposed inwardly projecting post or enlargement designated by 7 a. As indicated in the drawing, the post may be produced from hard curing stock.

What I claim is:

1. A hollow tank valve having a substanlower portlon formed and a relatively. rigid from flexible stock closed flat Joop formed as a continuation o the lower portion.

2. A tank valve having a' substantially hemispherical lower portion formed from iexible stock; a relatively rigid flat top; and

' a series of concentric ribs formed on the top.

4. A. tank valve having a substantially hemispherical flexible lower portion; and a relatively rigid Hat top, the inner wall of the lower portion merging into the inner Wall of thetop upon a curve to produce an -arched formation;

5. A tank valve having a substantially hemispherical flexible lower portion; and a relatively rigid at top, the inner wall of the lower portion merging into the inner wall of the topl upon a reversely curved line extending toward the center of the topy whereby a central post or extension is produced upon the inner face of the top.

6. A tank valve having'a substantially hemispherical flexible lower portion; a relatively rigid lat top; a post extending upwardly from the top; and a spud secured inl the outer end of the post.

7. A tank valve having a substantially hemispherical exible lower portion; a relatively rigid lat top; a post extending upwardly from the top; a Spud secured in the outer end of the post and a series of ribs formed upon the outer face of the top.

8. A tank valve having a substantially hemispherical flexible lower portion; and a relatively rigid flat top, the wall of the valvev being materially thickened at the point of mergence of the top and the lower portion. 4

9. A tank valve having a substantially hemispherical iexible lower portion; and` a relatively rigid flat top, the outer face of the lower portion, at the upper part thereof, flaring outwardly.

10. A tank valve having ay substantially hemispherical flexible lower portion; and a relatively rigid iiat top, the upper part of the wall of the lower portion where it merges into the top having its outer face curved outwardly and its inner face curved inwardly.

11. A tank valve having a jointless body comprising a substantially hemispherical lower portion and a relatively rigid top, the outer Wall of the vball larin outwardly and the inner face inwardly, thegliall being materially thickened thereby at the point of mergence of the top and the lower portion.

12. A tank valve having a substantial-ly hemispherical yielding lower portion and a relatively rigid top, the wall of the valve being materially thickened at the point of mergence ofthe top and the lower portion, and the wall of the top between the thickened portion and its center being somewhat thinner to produce `a zone of ilexure.

13. A tankl valve having a substantially hemispherical yielding lower portion and a relatively rigid top, the wall of the valvel being materially thickened at the point of mergence of the top and the lower portion, and the wall of the top between the thickened portion and its center being somewhat thinner to produce a zone of exure; and a spud stem extending upwardly from the center of the top.

14. A tank ball having a jointless body comprising a top and a lower relatively soft valve seating section, the upper portion of the outer face of said section Haring outwardly and the inner wall of the ball at the mergence of the top and lower sectionbeing in-curved toward the` center of the top to produce a \relative1y thickened portion at such point of mergence.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

vALBERT HOMER CANFIELD. 

